BASF launches biomass balance plastic additives; broadens its monomers portfolio and launches biobased 2-Octyl acrylate

German materials firm BASF has launched what it says is the industry’s first biomass balance offerings for plastic additives. The initial offerings, including Irganox 1010 BMBcert and Irganox 1076 FD BMBcert, are certified by TÜV Nord for mass balance according to the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus).

Both products will initially be produced at BASF’s site in Kaisten, Switzerland, with additional availability of Irganox 1010 FF BMBcert and Irganox 1076 FD BMBcert from McIntosh, US, in early 2024. 

The BMBcert offerings contribute to a reduction in fossil feedstock demand. At the beginning of the value chain, fossil-based raw material is replaced by ISCC certified bio-based feedstock and a corresponding amount is attributed to the product according to a mass balance approach. Via the attribution of these sustainably sourced renewable feedstocks, the product’s cradle-to-gate carbon footprint is significantly reduced by up to 60%, compared to the global average product carbon footprint of conventional grades.

The Irganox products are drop-in replacements for Irganox 1010 and Irganox 1076. These BMBcert offerings are identical to the conventional grades in performance, quality, and product stewardship and regulatory aspects. As a result, customers do not need to requalify the new additives or reformulate their products.

“By leveraging BASF’s highly integrated global production network of interconnected sites and plants, we are able to produce these industry-first, low carbon footprint, drop-in solutions with the same performance characteristics,” said Joerg Bentlage, Head of Global Product Management, Plastic Additives, BASF.

In related news, BASF is expanding its growing portfolio of ¹⁴C bio-based monomers with a proprietary process for production of 2-Octyl Acrylate (2-OA). The new product underlines BASF’s strong commitment to innovation for a sustainable future with 73% ¹⁴C-tracable bio-based content according to ISO 16620. Besides the regular ¹⁴C bio-based 2-Octyl Acrylate, BASF also launched the new product as 2-Octyl Acrylate BMB ISCC Plus. Here, the remaining carbon content is ISCC Plus-certified, and by applying BASF’s biomass balance (BMB¹) approach, this variant offers a further reduced product carbon footprint (PCF²).

With an industrial-scale production setup at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF adds it has a pioneering role when it comes to producing 2-Octyl Acrylate in large volumes. This allows BASF to make the bio-based monomer globally available as a raw material.

BASF’s 2-Octyl acrylate uses 2-Octanol as the respective bio-based feedstock. This bio-alcohol is based on castor oil, a sustainable non-edible feedstock which is reliably available throughout the year.

With its balanced solvency, 2-Octyl Acrylate can easily be used as bio-based alternative to fossil-based monomers such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and n-butyl acrylate (BA) e.g. in adhesives formulations, or coatings applications.

The new product also offers performance benefits compared to fossil alternatives, showing improved scrub resistance in coatings, shear resistance in adhesives and excellent weatherability.

Therefore, 2-Octyl Acrylate is one of the few ¹⁴C bio-based monomers which can be used in both standard and high-performance applications. The high purity of BASF’s 2-Octyl acrylate provides a reliably high quality, with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) and enables customers to use the monomer in a broad application range.

BASF’s 2-Octyl Acrylate is already registered in the EU, the US, Japan and many other countries. Further registrations are ongoing.

(PRA)

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